cshimokita
[Photo Forum Moderator]
10714
cliché
"Average photographs are the result of thinking about average things in average ways" — from a Photo Workshop
Norman Rockwell (press illustrator, 1894-1978) is called America's "storyteller". Starting in 1916 he did 322 Saturday Evening Post magazine covers... his work influenced generations of visual artists as well as reflected the work of many of his contemporaries. It's the core elements of his approach, still very evident today, that I have long wanted to explore.
2011
Anyone who has tried to read the novels of Honoré de Balzac, will quickly realize that the style of storytelling, at least in written form, has moved on since 1830–50. Time and Tide, etc.
"Storytelling" in one form or another might be considered to be a staple of the photographs we resonate with, be they our own images or from another photographer. I greatly enjoy the way in which various contributors here have approached the craft... and at some level, I wonder how far we have moved on from a Rockwell-ian influence on our storytelling / image making. I know that I have my bread and butter themes 😉
"So, baby, can't you see I've got to break free?" Songwriter — Deacon John Richard (1984)
© Ernst Haas
Ernst Haas (1921-1986) was an Austrian-American photojournalist and color photographer. (for more information on Haas, see video link here). Has Haas stumbled onto something, or is it just a technique? In any case I applaud his approach... albeit a bit repetitive after seeing more of his portfolio.
Not a fan of Big Hollywood... enjoyed the over the top fantasy of the Sicario movies... (a dark screen - under exposed image - is only one overly simplistic way to portray a dark theme) and I have read everything in the John Rebus series by Ian Rankin.
It's been said that meaningful and significant change is a result of... the status quo might be nothing more than thinking about average things in average ways.
Kind of puts a frame on it... what can be accomplished in 4,000 weeks? I have been taking a short break to recharge the batteries... good to be back.
Thanks for looking,
Casey
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cliché
" Average photographs are the result of thinking about average things in average ways " — from a Photo Workshop Norman Rockwell (press illustrator, 1894-1978) is called America's "storyteller". Starting in 1916 he did 322 Saturday Evening Post magazine co...
Rebus is fantastic...
...I've read them all as well. But the TV adaptations aren't very good. The actor on-screen is nothing like the Rebus in my head.
Nothing like a good English detective novel...
Unlike the US crime novels, one never knows how it will end... Also enjoyed the "Jack Frost" books, but unfortunately R.D. Wingfield only wrote a few. Casey .
They really do love their murder over there...
...and I will always opt for 'gritty' over happy endings. One critic had the best description of Rankin I've ever seen...'Tartan noir.'
Btw, I have been binging a lot of the Scandinavian...
...murder series lately. There seems to be a lot of them on on Netflix especially. Pretty damned dark. Most of them formulaic but still worth watching. And some really stunning cinematography of some beautiful landscapes.
a short list of Nordic noir authors...
Jo Nesbø from Norway; Henning Mankell, Stieg Larsson and Camilla Läckberg from Sweden; Jussi Adler-Olsen from Denmark; and Arnaldur Indriðason from Iceland. The first three I have read extensively. Casey .
When I saw the Haas, I thought of this guy...
...who I recently saw: mobile.twitter.com
That is one cool....
photograph by Haas. I was not familiar with him or his work beforehand. Again, I always admired most the filmmakers who not only thought 'outside the box', but did so in a practical and effective way where it became inextricably intertwined with the way t...
;))
I would have to agree with you on that sentiment . Malick did manage to go off on too self-serving a tangent with a few of his movies, rendering them nearly unpalatable to anyone other than himself....
Very nice post
I like your 2011 photo very much. Great composition. It is clear you took your time. Very nice indeed.
Thank you Jaccard...
In general I consider myself to be a fast shooter and normally only one shot... but you may be correct about that 2011 photo, I don't remember the details. Casey .
I think one has the opportunity to get "better" over ⌚
In the sense that, if one looks back over the portfolio, one can find the patterns and repetitions. But I do find inertia in some basic areas. I have to push myself from time to time (or at least talk about pushing myself)... hehehe. Casey .
Next week I am headed for Tokyo for a few days...
It will be great to see the homestead after many many moons. Just need to take care of some administrative issues, then back to Nagano Prefecture for the summer. I am thinking to bring back my dSLR and long lens for some variety. Casey .
Thanks for the kind comment
That 2011 photo is a bit of a nod to William Eggleston... 😉 His enigmatic 1970 portrait of a tricycle is said to have taken photography down a whole new road. Casey .
It’s the slide that makes it for me
It’s just such a nice development of the space by you. I see the reference
Thank you for the detail comment...
our main compositional decision might be where to stand ;-)
I checked my online records for any detail...
unfortunately my laptop files only go back to 2014... I would have to check the archives in Tokyo to get more detail... if film (most likely the case) the records would only indicate the film, camera, and lens... no f-stop or shutter speed info. Most like...
How right Norman Rockwell was!
Change your attitude and you can change your art. Great post, Casey.
Well balanced photograph, this. The springs on those 2 horsies somewhat align with the trees in the background..
Then we have that slide on the right and that tree to the left. Of course, all that works nicely to frame your “nod to Eggleston”. Sorry. I know it’s a somewhat shallow comment but i was answering the question in my mind “why does this work” and immediate...
The comments are not 'shallow' in any way 😉
In retrospect there is a fair bit of symmetry... there's that, plus (for me) the way the 'horsies' pop out of the image, I like the separation front to back as well Not to over analyze the photo 😉 Note: Horsy (plural horsies) ... a child's term or name fo...